Shoppers prepare for potential blizzard

How are people preparing for the potential blizzard expected to hit Friday? Storm prep usually involves grocery shopping, which was certainly the scene over at Roche Bros. in Burlington today.

Chris Warren

How are people preparing for the potential blizzard expected to hit Friday? Storm prep usually involves grocery shopping, which was certainly the scene over at Roche Bros. in Burlington today.

First stop was to talk with store manager Peter Keenan, who is bagging groceries to help with the uptick in customers.

When asked if Roche Bros. has run out of anything yet, he responded, "No, we still have everything in stock."

"People are definitely buying more comfort and snack foods today, and of course, the usual milk and bread purchases," he said.

Over at the cold cut counter, it was a busy scene, with 10 to 15 people queued up and four or five Roche. Bros. employees busily working to fulfill their orders.

Is this what people do to prepare for a storm - buy cold cuts?

Jessie was shopping with her young son Paul.

"I don't know, but we're here because my husband works for the Woburn DPW and the cold cuts are so that he has something to eat while he's working throughout the weekend," she said.

Mary from Burlington was shopping this morning.

"I'm just doing my usual grocery shopping. Luckily, I have a garage for my car and someone lined up to plow my driveway, so I'm not panicked at all," she said.

"Our e-commerce grocery delivery service has seen a huge uptick. We usually get 40 to 50 orders a day, but today as of 10:30 a.m., we have more than 90 orders so far," said Roche Bros. employee Judy.

"We also cover delivery for elderly people who live in the inner cities (such as Chelsea, Winthrop, East Boston, Revere) and all the way up the North Shore for deliveries as far as Marblehead. We will stop taking orders at 2 p.m. this afternon and deliver groceries through 8 p.m. tonight," she added.